DHCD to Hold Stakeholder Meeting for Spring RFP

Friday, March 9, 2012

On March 21, DHCD will hold a Stakeholder’s Meeting to discuss funding administered by DHCD.

(Washington, DC) - John E. Hall, Director, Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), announces a Stakeholder’s Meeting for non-profit and for profit organizations, developers, lenders and other government agencies to discuss funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) program, Department of Mental Health (DMH) program, 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits program, Community Housing Development Organizations operating grants, Housing Counseling Services grants, and Sustainable Grants, all administered by DHCD.

The District is releasing a Consolidated Request For Proposals (RFP) in the Spring of 2012. DHCD is interested in financing projects that focus on the following categories: 1) elderly housing; 2) special needs housing; 3) permanent housing for chronically homeless individuals and families in mixed income buildings with supportive services; 4) preservation of housing affected by expiring federal subsidies; 5) new/substantial rehabilitation of housing (5 or more units); 6) homeownership, 7) permanent supportive housing units for the exclusive use of DMH consumers and 8) community facilities.

COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPOMENT ORGANIZATIONS Operating Grants
Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) that are certified by the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and which have been approved for a HOME-funded affordable housing project are eligible to apply for specified operating support. These funds are intended to assist eligible, qualified CHDOs that can demonstrate a need for such operating support during the development of the project. Operating costs under these grants may include, but are not limited to: salaries, wages, and other employee compensation and benefits, employee education, training and travel, rent, utilities, communication costs, taxes, insurance, equipment, materials, and supplies. The operating grant will stipulate per HOME regulations that the grantee must receive HOME funds for a housing project from DHCD within 24 months of grant execution.

HOUSING COUNSELING
Grantee organizations provide counseling services and training for homeownership, home preservation, tenants, and tenant groups. These services will support several DHCD housing programs and initiatives, including, but not limited to HPAP, Single Family Residential Rehabilitation, Lead Safe Washington, Affordable Dwelling Units, and Inclusionary Zoning. In addition, grantees provide credit counseling, foreclosure counseling, tenant education, eviction counseling, as well as other housing services.

COMMUNITY CHALLENGE PLANNING GRANTS
This grant is designed to complement planned investment in the Congress Heights/Historic Anacostia/St. Elizabeth’s (CHASE) area. The grant will support affordable homeownership and low-cost rental options for lower-income and senior households with an innovative homeownership sustainability fund and by expanding a range of services available to Historic Anacostia through DHCD’s existing local funding programs.